EToonz

EToonz is a South African children's television channel associated with e.tv and its owner, eMedia Investments. It is distributed as a digital satellite and free-to-air service, with programming aimed primarily at preschool and school-age audiences. The channel forms part of e.tv's broader portfolio of supplementary television services created to expand the broadcaster's reach beyond its main terrestrial channel and to prepare for the development of South Africa's digital television environment. Before becoming a standalone channel, EToonz existed as a short programming segment within Little e, a former children's block on e.tv. That early block included locally produced animated and educational material such as The Adventures of Lerato and Alex and Deep & Dylan's Curious Minds. The transition from a programming block to a dedicated service reflected e.tv's effort to build additional channels around established audience segments and to make fuller use of its content library and distribution relationships. The channel was initially presented as eToonz+, alongside other planned or launched e.tv services including eKasi+, eMovies+ and eAfrica+. Although these services were conceived in the context of South Africa's delayed digital migration and planned digital terrestrial television rollout, prolonged regulatory and industry delays led eMedia to launch the channels on the OpenView HD satellite platform instead of waiting for nationwide terrestrial digital switchover. EToonz therefore became part of eMedia's multi-channel strategy before the completion of the country's digital migration process. Its distribution history has also included DStv. Availability on that platform was discussed publicly in 2017 and was formally announced on 17 May of that year. During 2017, the channel underwent a visual and brand refresh, after which the plus sign used in the original eToonz+ identity was removed. The rebranding aligned the service more closely with the names of eMedia's other channels and reflected the company's consolidation of its expanding television portfolio. EToonz's schedule is built around animated series, preschool programming, family entertainment and selected youth-oriented properties. Programming associated with the channel has included The Loud House, SpongeBob SquarePants, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Friends: Heartlake Stories, MasterChef Junior, Power Rangers, Pokémon, Fireman Sam, Peppa Pig, In the Night Garden..., Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures, The Boss Baby, Archibald's Next Big Thing and LEGO Friends: Girls on a Mission. Much of its content is drawn from or related to the Craz-e programming environment on e.tv, although EToonz focuses on animation and children's entertainment rather than the former block's live-action youth programming. The channel became involved in a carriage dispute between eMedia Investments and MultiChoice. EToonz and several other eMedia services were scheduled for removal from DStv in April 2022. eMedia challenged the proposed removal before South Africa's Competition Tribunal, and the channels continued temporarily before leaving the platform near the end of May 2022. EToonz, together with eExtra, eMovies and eMovies Extra, was restored to DStv in August 2022 for a further interim period while the dispute and related investigation remained unresolved. By the end of August 2024, eMedia Investments and MultiChoice had settled the dispute. The available reference material does not establish the channel's complete current distribution profile, but EToonz remains identified with eMedia's children's television portfolio.

EToonz began as a children's programming segment within Little e, a former block carried by e.tv. The segment provided a home for animated and educational productions, including The Adventures of Lerato and Alex and Deep & Dylan's Curious Minds, both identified as South African-produced content. Its initial form was relatively short, lasting between approximately 30 and 60 minutes, rather than operating as a full channel. The service later became part of e.tv's plan to create additional channels for South Africa's emerging digital television market. It was initially branded eToonz+ and launched alongside eKasi+, eMovies+ and eAfrica+. These services were intended to support e.tv's expansion into a larger collection of free-to-air channels, particularly in the context of digital terrestrial television. South Africa's digital migration process was delayed by government, regulatory and industry disputes, however, so eMedia Investments proceeded with satellite distribution through OpenView HD rather than waiting for the completion of digital terrestrial rollout. The early channel strategy also involved discussions with StarSat about possible carriage, although those discussions did not produce an agreement according to the available reference material. In 2017, EToonz's possible carriage on DStv became public, and its availability was formally announced on 17 May. Later that year, the channel was visually refreshed and the plus sign was removed from the name, leaving EToonz as the principal identity. EToonz's programming developed around animation and children's entertainment. Content linked to the service has included preschool titles such as In the Night Garden... and Peppa Pig; animated properties including Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures, The Boss Baby, Archibald's Next Big Thing and LEGO Friends: Girls on a Mission; and other children's and youth programmes such as The Loud House, SpongeBob SquarePants, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Pokémon, Fireman Sam, MasterChef Junior and Power Rangers. Much of the channel's schedule is associated with the Craz-e block on e.tv, while certain live-action youth programmes from that block were not carried on EToonz. A major later development was the dispute over DStv carriage. EToonz and three other eMedia channels were scheduled for removal on 1 April 2022. eMedia Investments applied to the Competition Tribunal in connection with its carriage agreement with MultiChoice. EToonz continued on DStv for roughly two additional months before leaving the platform near the end of May. In August 2022, it was reinstated with the other affected eMedia services for another six months while the matter remained under investigation. eMedia Investments and MultiChoice eventually settled the dispute by the end of August 2024. The available sources do not specify all subsequent distribution arrangements, audience figures, financial results or individual executives.

• 2024

  Settlement of the eMedia–MultiChoice dispute

  [1]EToonzen.wikipedia.org

  The carriage dispute affecting EToonz and related eMedia services was settled by the end of August.

• 2022

  DStv carriage interruption

  [1]EToonzen.wikipedia.org

  EToonz left DStv near the end of May after a proposed removal, an interim continuation and a carriage dispute involving eMedia and MultiChoice.

• 2022

  Temporary reinstatement on DStv

  [1]EToonzen.wikipedia.org

  EToonz returned to DStv in August for an additional interim period.

• 2017

  DStv distribution announced

  [1]EToonzen.wikipedia.org

  EToonz's carriage on DStv was formally announced alongside several other eMedia channels.

• 2017

  Rebrand from eToonz+ to EToonz

  [1]EToonzen.wikipedia.org

  The channel received a visual refresh and removed the plus sign from its name.

• Launch as a Little e programming segment

  [1]EToonzen.wikipedia.org

  EToonz first appeared as a short children's programming segment within the former Little e block on e.tv.

• Expansion into a standalone channel

  [1]EToonzen.wikipedia.org

  The service was developed into eToonz+, one of several additional e.tv channels associated with eMedia's digital television expansion strategy.

Children's entertainment channel combining preschool programming, animated series, family content and selected youth-oriented shows for South African viewers.

• Children's television channel

  EToonz television channel

  EToonz is a South African children's channel offering animated series, preschool programmes, family entertainment and selected youth-oriented content. Its reported schedule runs for approximately 16 hours from Sunday through Friday, 17 hours on Saturday and up to 18 hours during school holidays when films are included. The channel is connected to e.tv's Craz-e programming environment and has carried both international franchises and South African-produced children's material.

• 2024

  Settle the DStv carriage disputeOther

  Background

  EToonz's distribution was affected by the unresolved disagreement between eMedia Investments and MultiChoice.

  Action taken

  eMedia Investments and MultiChoice reached a settlement by the end of August.

  Aftermath

  The reference material does not state the complete terms of the settlement or establish all of EToonz's subsequent distribution arrangements.

  Source

• 2022

  Challenge the proposed DStv removalOther

  Background

  MultiChoice planned to remove EToonz and several other eMedia channels from DStv under a carriage dispute.

  Action taken

  eMedia Investments applied to the Competition Tribunal in relation to its carriage agreement with MultiChoice.

  Aftermath

  EToonz remained temporarily available, left DStv near the end of May, and was reinstated in August while the dispute proceeded.

  Source

• 2017

  Adopt the EToonz nameOther

  Background

  The channel had originally been marketed as eToonz+ alongside other services using the plus-sign naming convention.

  Action taken

  A visual rebrand removed the plus sign and established EToonz as the channel's identity.

  Aftermath

  The channel continued as part of eMedia's expanding collection of branded services.

  Source

• Launch additional channels through OpenView HDStrategy

  Background

  Delays to South Africa's digital terrestrial television migration made it uncertain when the planned DTT audience would become available.

  Action taken

  eMedia proceeded with the launch of EToonz and related channels on the OpenView HD satellite platform rather than waiting for the completion of digital migration.

  Aftermath

  EToonz entered service as part of eMedia's multi-channel television portfolio, while broader DTT availability remained dependent on the delayed rollout.

  Source

1. 1EToonzen.wikipedia.org
2. 2EToonz official pageetv.co.za